There is a single word that strikes terror in the hearts of everyone.  Cancer.  Joshua Tullier never thought he'd hear his doctors utter that word, but after a seemingly routine check-up concerning a small lump on his arm, his doctor discovered that although the lump was nothing to worry about, there was a problem with Joshua's thyroid.  After a series of tests, he was diagnosed with Stage Three thyroid cancer and subsequently had several surgeries to rid his body of the tumor.  While battling cancer, Josh began to examine his life.

"When I found out I had cancer, I wasn't happy where I was working so it made me reflect on my life and ask myself if this is what I wanted to continue doing.  And it wasn't.  So I thought about it and decided that going to LTC was how I could change my life."

Joshua thought back to the days when he had worked at a refinery.  He had the opportunity to work closely with several of the plant's operators and was really interested in what they did.  He decided to pursue it as a career.  After a few phone calls, Joshua learned that the LTC Ascension campus offered a program in Process Technology (PTEC).  The campus also offered other benefits.

"What really made me decide to go there was that I could get my hands-on training at the Ascension campus, but get my academic classes at River Parishes Community College so I could transfer them to LSU to get my four year degree."

Joshua started at the LTC in 2007.  He says that although he was an older student, he felt welcomed and thrived with the assistance of faculty and staff.

"I was welcomed really well by all of the people that work there. Since I was a nontraditional student, they helped me to fit in.  They were very understanding."

He said that two specific people at the campus really made an impact on his life.

"Byron "Tut" Babin and Ms. Becky Etzel really had an impact on me.  Ms. Becky taught me how to look at a problem from someone else's perspective; to realize that there's more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak.  Byron was almost like a dad to me.  He helped me with any of the problems that I had in school and problems that I had with life in general."

While in school, Joshua underwent a third surgery for his thyroid cancer.  He says that the faculty and staff were more than supportive, encouraging him, sending emails and checking on his progress.  He scheduled the surgery during Thanksgiving break and returned to school shortly thereafter.

"School was one of the things that really kept me going.  I just wanted to keep things as normal as possible.  And school did that for me."

Joshua graduated from the PTEC program in 2009 and landed his dream job a few months before graduating. 

"I was hired by Crosstex Energy Services, which is a fractionation facility in Geismar, LA.  I had numerous phone calls and opportunities for other positions.  A lot of doors have been opened.  I really feel blessed to have a job in my field in the economy that we're in today.  I love my job.  It's everything I ever dreamed my job would be.  I was on vacation all last week and I couldn't wait to get back to work.  It's a great place to work and a really good atmosphere."

When asked what advice he would give to students, Joshua says:

"No matter how tough it looks ahead, it's really not.  Just put your mind to it and you can do it.  The cliché is true.  You can overcome any obstacle.  All you have to do is have the drive and the want-to."

When asked what the greatest thing he has learned through his experiences so far, Joshua says:

"Patience.  Patience is the greatest thing I've ever learned through this whole thing.  Through going to school. Through fighting cancer."

Now cancer-free, Joshua is living out his dream and he thanks the Louisiana Technical College for the opportunities it has provided him.  His goal is to return to Louisiana State University and obtain a Bachelor's degree in his field.

"You know there's a lot of things I used to take for granted but now I don't take anything for granted.  I thank the Lord every day I wake up and every day that I see my son.  Going to the LTC has changed my life.  The doors it has opened for me and the people I have met through LTC - it has been remarkable."

The PTEC program offers coursework that will earn the student a two-year associate of applied science degree.  It's a highly sought-after field that prepares the student for a high-paying, challenging career as an operator in such areas as the petro-chemical industry, refining industry, power generation industry, pharmaceutical industry and pulp and paper industry.  The PTEC degree program is offered at the following campuses:  Louisiana Technical College - River Parishes Campus, Louisiana Technical College - Ascension Campus, Baton Rouge Community College, Sowela Technical Community College, Nunez Community College and Louisiana Delta Community College.